RELIANCE MERCURY 8001

[dadandlad]

Well i joined the forum a couple of days back and thought i would share my project with you.
I worked for a company in England for six years building Aircraft and Dock service vehicles until it closed down a few years ago.
I had always wanted to build a working scale model of my favourite vehicle the 8001 push back tractor,which we built five in total shipping them to Ogden Aviation at schipol airport,Aer-lingus at Hethrow,RAF at RAF Brize Norton and the last two to China
The original spec
Overall length 8156mm
Overall Height 1725mm
Overall width 3025mm
wheelbase 3575mm
Ground clearance 190mm
Engine Aircooled Deutz BF10L513 394 Bhp 15.95 Litre
ZF powershift transmission
Kessler twin steer drive axles

My aim is to produce a accurate working scale model of the 8001 and the inspiration came when i purchased a Tamiya TLT and realised the axles are a very good match for the originals.
I have spent around 6 months so far producing what you see,the main chassis is 5mm alluminium plate with he same material used for the bulkheads.
The bodywork and cab are all made from various thickness's of brass sheet.
The square box with the brass gear you see in one of the pics is a combined Hydraulic tank and pump to power the onboard jacks and cab elevate ram and the block with the fittings in is the three station manifold to control the above features.
The drive gearbox is a cross between a TLT and a electric plane reduction gearbox although this may change if i can lay my hands on a Tamiya 3 speed unit
All the service hatch lids will be hinged to allow access to the radio gear,pump etc.
The cab has hinged doors just for the **** of it nd will be trimmed out with carpet as per the original.
I still have a lot to do and expect to spend at least another 6-12 months before it is finished.

I have had the pleasure of driving one of these on a pushback at Heathrow Airport where she pushed a fully laden Air India 747 backwards on little more than tickover,it really is rarther daunting to look up through the cab roof and realise the nose of the plane is stretched to the rear of the truck {we pushed it out from the front of our vehicle} and the look out to the side making the tightest turn and realise just how tortured the tyres and landing gear of the plane are.

Anyway im sorry i didn't find you guys earlier and you have missed quite a lot of my build but any questions i wil try to answer and bring you up to date.

[dadandlad]

More

[dadandlad]

And more

[dadandlad]

Some pictures of the real thing which i have waited 3 years for it to come back into the country.Most of the build was done from memory.
Hmmm could only upload 2 pics,looks like i will have to resize the rest.

A bit more of a insight into the real thing

4 wheel drive 4 wheel steer
4 steering modes,2 wheel front,2 wheel rear,4 wheel steer and crab
Top speed 30mph


Chassis assembled from 100mm plate in 3 sections each section weighing 7 tons,the sections where assembled on steel blocks approx 400mm off the floor,bolted,pinned and finally welded together.
Cab bucket added and rear 4 ton ballast weight
Engine,gearbox and axles added
Cab fitted
All air valves,pipes and electrics added
Wings fitted approx 2 tons each
Side ballast weights added 5 each side 1 ton each
Fuel and hydraulic tanks fitted along with all hydraulic hoses
Engine covers etc added
Time to build start to finish in assembly shop 6 weeks,that is 2 fitters and a sparky

I really loved my job and still consider these trucks as my babies

[grumpygrady]

sure glad to see this here
did you try the ice to bend the exhaust pipe

[Dreamweaver]

WOW your brass work is truly amazing.

[dadandlad]

Thank you boys.
Pictures now resized so lots more for you to look at

[dadandlad]

More

[dadandlad]

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[dadandlad]

Last of them

[dadandlad]

Question for you boys in the know.
Which of the rc4wd axles would be a direct replacement for the Tamiya TLT axles?

[SonoranWraith]

I think the D35 is only 1mm narrower for size. There is a thread with a comparison photo somewhere but a quick search didn't turn it up so maybe someone else will remember it.

[fhhhstix]

Here you go.

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ead.php?t=1050

Travis

[russisloud]

i really don't even know what to say? but WOW!

[rcman]

wow! your brazing skills are awesome! looking really good so far. welcome to the board. now you have to build a 747 to push around!

[SmallHaul]

Originally Posted by dadandlad

Question for you boys in the know.
Which of the rc4wd axles would be a direct replacement for the Tamiya TLT axles?

RC4WDsells aluminum housings for the TLT axles:

http://store.rc4wd.com/CNC-Straight-...ing_p_924.html

Unique build and very nice work!

[dadandlad]

Thank you for your kind comments
The reason for wanting the axles,in a moment of madness i sold them a couple of years ago
So if anyone has a spare set for sale it would be appreciated.

As far as the build goes not much done this week,but i have been tidying the shed to give myself some room to work and hopefully my mate is turning up this evening with a mobile workbench so i have a place to store whilst building.
The plan is get tidied up during the week and spend all weekend working on the truck.
I must say thanks to you boys and this great website im full of enthusiasm again.
Cheers Mark

[Izzy]

Very nice build..... Impressive project scope....

[dadandlad]

Well after much thoght the original brass build was scrapped due to major weight issues but started again in plasticard

[crazy4yachts]

That is one cool looking model nice work, I work for a major Airline is that the Push back tug for the 747 and 777 aircraft it looks for familiar?